14 July 2009
07 July 2009
I wish I could speak French
Today we arrived in the city of Paris! We left our hostel in London at around 4:45am. Soooooo early. Checked in for Eurostar by 5am (French stamp in passport = SWEET!) and left St Pancras promptly at 5:25. We had breakfast served soon afterwards. Omlette, sausage, hashbrowns, mushrooms, orange juice, and breads. And lots of tea! Yum! Soon after eating, both Erin and I fell asleep.
It was super easy to find our hotel. The concierge was a very nice Frenchman. We sat around the breakfast tables trying to decide on what we wanted to do since our room wasn't ready. Then right when we were about to walk out the door "mademoiselles!" Our room was ready. We finally made it back to the train station to buy metro tickets and went to the St Michel stop to take a look at Notre Dame. We found a cute little creperie on a side street on Ile de St Louis. Crepes are sooooo yummy! I got one with cheese, ham and tomato; Erin, just ham and cheese and we split a chocolat crepe. After that we met up with the advertised "Free Walking Tour" of Paris. Three and a half hours around all the major sites. This was quite helpful in giving us an orientation to the city. However, we forgot sun screen. This was bad news bears.
We literally saw everything we wanted to on the tour, except for Montmarte. Montmarte is for Thursday. After the tour, we strolled along the second most expensive street in the world, Champs Elysees (pronounced shamps lee-says) and got a good look at the Arc du Triomphe.
So...yeah. Tired and sunburnt. We are going to Disneyland Paris tomorrow. Yes, we are nerds.
Did I mention that Paris is awesome? Seriously, awesome. The architecture alone is incredible. I want to move here just so I can wander the streets and oogle the architecture. Nevermind, the language barrier. That has already produced some interesting results.
It was super easy to find our hotel. The concierge was a very nice Frenchman. We sat around the breakfast tables trying to decide on what we wanted to do since our room wasn't ready. Then right when we were about to walk out the door "mademoiselles!" Our room was ready. We finally made it back to the train station to buy metro tickets and went to the St Michel stop to take a look at Notre Dame. We found a cute little creperie on a side street on Ile de St Louis. Crepes are sooooo yummy! I got one with cheese, ham and tomato; Erin, just ham and cheese and we split a chocolat crepe. After that we met up with the advertised "Free Walking Tour" of Paris. Three and a half hours around all the major sites. This was quite helpful in giving us an orientation to the city. However, we forgot sun screen. This was bad news bears.
We literally saw everything we wanted to on the tour, except for Montmarte. Montmarte is for Thursday. After the tour, we strolled along the second most expensive street in the world, Champs Elysees (pronounced shamps lee-says) and got a good look at the Arc du Triomphe.
So...yeah. Tired and sunburnt. We are going to Disneyland Paris tomorrow. Yes, we are nerds.
Did I mention that Paris is awesome? Seriously, awesome. The architecture alone is incredible. I want to move here just so I can wander the streets and oogle the architecture. Nevermind, the language barrier. That has already produced some interesting results.
05 July 2009
Here I am in Arcadia!
Here is my informal review of Arcadia by Tom Stoppard as seen at the Duke of York's in London on July 4, 2009.
The actress playing Thomasina was a little disappointing. Her posture was atrocious and she had this way of bobbing her head with every emphatic word. She pronounced every word as if she were a child trying to make she she sounded like an adult. This would have been an excellent acting choice if she had changed at all during the production, since she is supposed to begin at 13 and 10 months and end at 16 years and 364 days. Her acting style did not grow with the character. Disappointing.
My favorite was Ed Stoppard as Valentine, and this is not because he is Tom Stoppard's son. He is simply a FANTASTIC actor and his portrayal of Valentine was superb. The way that I read Valentine was entirely different than what was portrayed. It was a delightful surprise. Valentine is much more sarcastic in life than on the page. Or maybe I was simply too dense to see it. On the page, Valentine seemed much more introverted or like he couldn't be bothered to pay attention to anyone else but his grouse. Stoppard's physicality really worked for the character. He looked introverted while also engaging the room with lots of energy. He would hunch his shoulders, with hands in pockets, head bent, yet whizz Bernard with some comment or another. It showed Valentine to be much more attentive to his surroundings than I read him to be. Or when he sat on the table that dominated the stage, he would sit in a prominent V shape - again, hunched shoulders, with his hands tucked between his legs. Or busily engaged in feeding his tortoise. It felt as though he were totally involved in his character.
Septimus was delightful! As a character, Tom Stoppard drew him (in my opinion) to be a sort of counter to Valentine. An introverted sarcastic bloke who just so happens to be incredibly intelligent. He was extraordinarily played. Every gesture, every facial expression built towards the illustration of the complex character of Septimus Hodge, the fancy of Hannah's work.
Hannah and Bernard were just as I imagined. Exciting, larger than life characters pitted against one another in the name of knowledge, or in Bernard's case, infamy. Excellent performances that lived up to the character written.
I've always thought that it would be fun to play Lady Croom. She looked as though she was having fun, and I certainly enjoyed it. Nothing notable, except for maybe the posh turn of voice she put on every once and a while to indicate her aristocratic status. I wished she might have used it more often. The costumes she wore were hmmmmm good! The colors were so vibrant and she wore her clothes with the dignity of a noblewoman.
The final scenes of Arcadia still baffle me. Maybe that's why I return to it time and time again. Searching for answers and meaning, just like Valentine, Hannah, Thomasina, Septimus, and Bernard. I think in the end, Chloe is the one who gets it right. The universe is determined, but when people fancy one another when they're not supposed to, everything changes. Sex, literature, grouse, game books, letters. What exactly is that mystery that Thomasina knows? Funny how doing the right and moral upstanding thing can destroy others. Funny thing that savant among idiots.
The actress playing Thomasina was a little disappointing. Her posture was atrocious and she had this way of bobbing her head with every emphatic word. She pronounced every word as if she were a child trying to make she she sounded like an adult. This would have been an excellent acting choice if she had changed at all during the production, since she is supposed to begin at 13 and 10 months and end at 16 years and 364 days. Her acting style did not grow with the character. Disappointing.
My favorite was Ed Stoppard as Valentine, and this is not because he is Tom Stoppard's son. He is simply a FANTASTIC actor and his portrayal of Valentine was superb. The way that I read Valentine was entirely different than what was portrayed. It was a delightful surprise. Valentine is much more sarcastic in life than on the page. Or maybe I was simply too dense to see it. On the page, Valentine seemed much more introverted or like he couldn't be bothered to pay attention to anyone else but his grouse. Stoppard's physicality really worked for the character. He looked introverted while also engaging the room with lots of energy. He would hunch his shoulders, with hands in pockets, head bent, yet whizz Bernard with some comment or another. It showed Valentine to be much more attentive to his surroundings than I read him to be. Or when he sat on the table that dominated the stage, he would sit in a prominent V shape - again, hunched shoulders, with his hands tucked between his legs. Or busily engaged in feeding his tortoise. It felt as though he were totally involved in his character.
Septimus was delightful! As a character, Tom Stoppard drew him (in my opinion) to be a sort of counter to Valentine. An introverted sarcastic bloke who just so happens to be incredibly intelligent. He was extraordinarily played. Every gesture, every facial expression built towards the illustration of the complex character of Septimus Hodge, the fancy of Hannah's work.
Hannah and Bernard were just as I imagined. Exciting, larger than life characters pitted against one another in the name of knowledge, or in Bernard's case, infamy. Excellent performances that lived up to the character written.
I've always thought that it would be fun to play Lady Croom. She looked as though she was having fun, and I certainly enjoyed it. Nothing notable, except for maybe the posh turn of voice she put on every once and a while to indicate her aristocratic status. I wished she might have used it more often. The costumes she wore were hmmmmm good! The colors were so vibrant and she wore her clothes with the dignity of a noblewoman.
The final scenes of Arcadia still baffle me. Maybe that's why I return to it time and time again. Searching for answers and meaning, just like Valentine, Hannah, Thomasina, Septimus, and Bernard. I think in the end, Chloe is the one who gets it right. The universe is determined, but when people fancy one another when they're not supposed to, everything changes. Sex, literature, grouse, game books, letters. What exactly is that mystery that Thomasina knows? Funny how doing the right and moral upstanding thing can destroy others. Funny thing that savant among idiots.
03 July 2009
commune
I truly am having a great time with Erin, but I can't help but miss my Corrymeela friends. At the beginning of this journey, the thing I thought about most is whether by joining this community, if I'd actually find Community. In the midst, I was sure that I wasn't welcome. Towards the end, I thought I found a place, though maybe not Community. Looking back, I'm sure of the fact that I found Community. And it makes me wonder a lot about the actual definition of "community." Because the community I had for a few weeks on the Northern Coast of Ireland, didn't look like what I expected it to. It just goes to show how little expectations do for anyone, and certainly for myself.
I have these vague thoughts of going back to Corrymeela, for that bittersweet taste of Community. But it's useless because the same people will not be there. And it's the people that make Community what it's meant to be and do.
I will not forget you, dear friends. Let us go in Peace.
I have these vague thoughts of going back to Corrymeela, for that bittersweet taste of Community. But it's useless because the same people will not be there. And it's the people that make Community what it's meant to be and do.
I will not forget you, dear friends. Let us go in Peace.
02 July 2009
tuckered out
Hi all!
Erin and I are in Dublin! Yay! Yesterday, we both arrived at our hostel later than expected because we had such a hard time trying to find it. I could find the place where my bus was supposed to pick me up to take me by the hostel. This resulted in draggin my suitcase through the streets of Dublin, saying to myself, "I think I recognize this" or "Oh, there's O'Connell Street!" Yeah...
Anyway, Erin and I got settled into our tiny tiny tiny room and then decided that eating something might be a good idea. And magically, Sarah and Casey showed up at our door! We wandered around Dublin and eventually just picked a random place: the Metro Cafe. Sandwiches and salads for all. And, as usual, what is listed as hot and spicy on an Irish menu, barely has a kick to it. It was lovely to see Sarah and Casey again. It's nice to know that even though we rarely see each other, we still get on just like old times :)
Erin felt like walking around, so we did. Sarah and Casey went to a pub and so we parted ways. I showed Erin Temple Bar (I <3 Temple Bar) where we got some Maud's Ice Cream and sat on the curb listening to Irish music pouring out of a pub. Sleepy z's set in, so we went back to the hostel, planned out our next day of tourism and headed off to bed.
Notable things: I had to use earplugs to fall asleep, as I am not used to city noise having been in the middle of nowhere for six weeks. I also lost both earplugs. At about 4am, both Erin and I were woke up by some horrendously loud thunder. Thunder, lightening, and buckets of rain.
Which - it was still raining when we got up this morning. We had only gotten a couple blocks down the street when we decided it would be better to turn around and change into more apropriate clothing and put some umbrellas in our hands. We then proceeded on the following itinerary:
After attempting to visit the cathedrals and deciding that it would be better to attend a service rather than pay to do, we went back to our hostel for email checking and naps. Naps turned into a two hour (for me, three hour, for Erin) affair with our pillows. Perhaps we will visit for Evensong tomorrow.
Tomorrow is a trip to Belfast! Huzzah!
Erin and I are in Dublin! Yay! Yesterday, we both arrived at our hostel later than expected because we had such a hard time trying to find it. I could find the place where my bus was supposed to pick me up to take me by the hostel. This resulted in draggin my suitcase through the streets of Dublin, saying to myself, "I think I recognize this" or "Oh, there's O'Connell Street!" Yeah...
Anyway, Erin and I got settled into our tiny tiny tiny room and then decided that eating something might be a good idea. And magically, Sarah and Casey showed up at our door! We wandered around Dublin and eventually just picked a random place: the Metro Cafe. Sandwiches and salads for all. And, as usual, what is listed as hot and spicy on an Irish menu, barely has a kick to it. It was lovely to see Sarah and Casey again. It's nice to know that even though we rarely see each other, we still get on just like old times :)
Erin felt like walking around, so we did. Sarah and Casey went to a pub and so we parted ways. I showed Erin Temple Bar (I <3 Temple Bar) where we got some Maud's Ice Cream and sat on the curb listening to Irish music pouring out of a pub. Sleepy z's set in, so we went back to the hostel, planned out our next day of tourism and headed off to bed.
Notable things: I had to use earplugs to fall asleep, as I am not used to city noise having been in the middle of nowhere for six weeks. I also lost both earplugs. At about 4am, both Erin and I were woke up by some horrendously loud thunder. Thunder, lightening, and buckets of rain.
Which - it was still raining when we got up this morning. We had only gotten a couple blocks down the street when we decided it would be better to turn around and change into more apropriate clothing and put some umbrellas in our hands. We then proceeded on the following itinerary:
- St. Stephen's Green
- National Gallery of Ireland
- National Museum of Ireland
- Trinity College, Dublin
- Temple Bar/Bagel Haven for lunch
- Chester Beatty Library
- Dublin Castle
- Christ Church Cathedral
- St. Patrick's Cathedral
- Dinner!
After attempting to visit the cathedrals and deciding that it would be better to attend a service rather than pay to do, we went back to our hostel for email checking and naps. Naps turned into a two hour (for me, three hour, for Erin) affair with our pillows. Perhaps we will visit for Evensong tomorrow.
Tomorrow is a trip to Belfast! Huzzah!
26 June 2009
21 June 2009
My opinion of this place has officially sunk so low to the point of being irredeemable.
Last night, we did a ghost walk with a group of teenagers. This means that they walk down to the ruins of a 16th century Friary and we tell them ghosts stories. Three of us went down early dressed in black cloaks. I was supposed to be the Black Nun and ring the bell to scare them.
Well, they weren't scared. Far from it. In fact, as soon as they saw me and heard the bell, the boys came running after me. They were pulling at my costume, pushing me, shoving me, and kicking me. They came at me three times. The only way I could keep them away was if I swung the bell at them, because no one wants to get hit by a heavy brass bell. I didn't touch anyone or hit anyone. After the third time of them coming and attacking me when all I was doing was trying to run away, I exploded and yelled at them: "if you touch me again, I swear to God..." that sort of thing.
And then I walked back to Corrymeela.
I'm going to be counting down the days until I can leave.
Last night, we did a ghost walk with a group of teenagers. This means that they walk down to the ruins of a 16th century Friary and we tell them ghosts stories. Three of us went down early dressed in black cloaks. I was supposed to be the Black Nun and ring the bell to scare them.
Well, they weren't scared. Far from it. In fact, as soon as they saw me and heard the bell, the boys came running after me. They were pulling at my costume, pushing me, shoving me, and kicking me. They came at me three times. The only way I could keep them away was if I swung the bell at them, because no one wants to get hit by a heavy brass bell. I didn't touch anyone or hit anyone. After the third time of them coming and attacking me when all I was doing was trying to run away, I exploded and yelled at them: "if you touch me again, I swear to God..." that sort of thing.
And then I walked back to Corrymeela.
I'm going to be counting down the days until I can leave.
16 June 2009
I think I'm tired.
Not physically tired. I've slept alright the past few days esp. since I had days off. I think I'm socially tired. I think I'm spiritually tired.
I think I'm tired of the routine of always meeting new people. The coming and going. Never spending enough time with people in order to feel comfortable. I hide, I shrink inside my shell. Waiting for the time to pass til I can go on with something else.
I'm tired of this conversation:
"Where in the States are you from?"
"California."
"Oh really? Where abouts?"
"I'm about an hour drive from LA."
"And do you study?"
"I graduated from university a year ago."
"And what did you study?"
"English literature and theatre."
"And are you going on to graduate studies?
"I'm going to start a master's program in the fall. I'll be doing costume design. Like theatre and stuff."
"WOW! That's neat. I didn't know you could get a degree in that."
(you along with everyone else) "Yeah, there are lots of schools that do."
Can't I just hang out with someone who knows me?
I think I'm tired of the routine of always meeting new people. The coming and going. Never spending enough time with people in order to feel comfortable. I hide, I shrink inside my shell. Waiting for the time to pass til I can go on with something else.
I'm tired of this conversation:
"Where in the States are you from?"
"California."
"Oh really? Where abouts?"
"I'm about an hour drive from LA."
"And do you study?"
"I graduated from university a year ago."
"And what did you study?"
"English literature and theatre."
"And are you going on to graduate studies?
"I'm going to start a master's program in the fall. I'll be doing costume design. Like theatre and stuff."
"WOW! That's neat. I didn't know you could get a degree in that."
(you along with everyone else) "Yeah, there are lots of schools that do."
Can't I just hang out with someone who knows me?
15 June 2009
sheep are weird
This whole weekend the sheep across the way have been louder than ever. Especially when it started raining. Really loud.
This morning Jessica woke up and went for a run. When she came back, she informed me that there were 3 sheep that greeted her when she walked out of Coventry. I can only assume that they had escaped and ended up wandering onto Corrymeela property. She said there was also a dead lamb on the beach. Someone needs to repair their fences.
This morning Jessica woke up and went for a run. When she came back, she informed me that there were 3 sheep that greeted her when she walked out of Coventry. I can only assume that they had escaped and ended up wandering onto Corrymeela property. She said there was also a dead lamb on the beach. Someone needs to repair their fences.
14 June 2009
the sky looks pissed. the rain talks back.
A storm is coming. I see it on the eastern horizon. Every couple of minutes there is a thunderclap. Even though it will mean being confined indoors, I hope it finds it's way to Corrymeela. Because it's more fun to sit inside with a cup of tea and listen to the rain pour rather than sit inside because you don't have anything else to do.
* * * * * *
As it turns out, it did rain. Poured and poured. I wrote that bit yesterday after I came back from a walk right before dinner. It started sprinkling at 7:30ish. But there was a group of us that were determined to go get ice cream. So we did. A young man by the name of Ethan, who was here for the week to interview as a long term volunteer next year, had a car. There were six of us in a five seater. We squished ourselves in there, but it was loads of fun. Maud's Ice Cream shop has probably some of the best ice cream in Ballycastle and maybe all of Northern Ireland. It is a chain ice cream brand so I guess that's not hard when they are all other Northern Ireland.
So by the time we ventured the one mile or so from Corrymeela to the centre of town, it went from sprinkling to pouring. We ran across streets and jumped over puddles and made it inside to the safety of the delicious sweet treat of Maud's. We laughed in the face of lightning. Smirked at the glaring eyes of the thunder.
When we got back, I convinced the group to play telephone pictionary, the beloved game of the Westmont theatre department 07-08. I also was persuaded to give 3 back massages. Word spreads quickly in these parts when all you did the day before was help out someone whose back hurt from vacuuming all day for housekeeping.
Today has been somewhat of a lazier day. I think I'm getting sick again. My throat hurt when I woke up this morning but it didn't look red until a few hours ago. I started reading the Cecelia Ahern book I got in Belfast, but I'm bored with it. The plot doesn't change much. The same stuff keeps happening to the characters over and over again. Even though the characters change, they are starting to annoy me more than anything else. High Fidelity was so much better.
I am flying back to America in a month. This is quite strange. What is also quite strange, I've been saying "grand" more and more. You'd think I was in Northern Ireland or something.
* * * * * *
As it turns out, it did rain. Poured and poured. I wrote that bit yesterday after I came back from a walk right before dinner. It started sprinkling at 7:30ish. But there was a group of us that were determined to go get ice cream. So we did. A young man by the name of Ethan, who was here for the week to interview as a long term volunteer next year, had a car. There were six of us in a five seater. We squished ourselves in there, but it was loads of fun. Maud's Ice Cream shop has probably some of the best ice cream in Ballycastle and maybe all of Northern Ireland. It is a chain ice cream brand so I guess that's not hard when they are all other Northern Ireland.
So by the time we ventured the one mile or so from Corrymeela to the centre of town, it went from sprinkling to pouring. We ran across streets and jumped over puddles and made it inside to the safety of the delicious sweet treat of Maud's. We laughed in the face of lightning. Smirked at the glaring eyes of the thunder.
When we got back, I convinced the group to play telephone pictionary, the beloved game of the Westmont theatre department 07-08. I also was persuaded to give 3 back massages. Word spreads quickly in these parts when all you did the day before was help out someone whose back hurt from vacuuming all day for housekeeping.
Today has been somewhat of a lazier day. I think I'm getting sick again. My throat hurt when I woke up this morning but it didn't look red until a few hours ago. I started reading the Cecelia Ahern book I got in Belfast, but I'm bored with it. The plot doesn't change much. The same stuff keeps happening to the characters over and over again. Even though the characters change, they are starting to annoy me more than anything else. High Fidelity was so much better.
I am flying back to America in a month. This is quite strange. What is also quite strange, I've been saying "grand" more and more. You'd think I was in Northern Ireland or something.
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